Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Global Konkani Forum (GKF) and Mandd Sobhann-Mangaluru have resolved to boycott all events and programs sponsored by the Sahitya Akademi, on behalf of the whole Konkani language community.
Until the Sahitya Akademi does not recognize Roman and Kannada script and grants equal rank to other Konkani scripts alongside Devanagari, both bodies have made this significant decision.
These associations have now chosen to abstain from the All India Konkani Parishad, which is set for October 26 and 27 at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. They have also urged students, writers, script societies, and Konkani language enthusiasts to boycott the same.
On October 26 from 8.30 am to 10 am, they will also hold a calm and silent dharna in front of Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. This will be followed by an open mic in Lohia Maidan in Margao.
According to Kennedy Afonso, convenor of the All Konkani Script Committee, “discrimination against a significant section of Konkani speakers and writers, and this goes against our fundamental rights, is the Sahitya Akademi’s continued recognition to only Devanagari script for Konkani language, while disregarding four other Konkani scripts, notably Roman Script, Kannada, Malayalam, and Perso-Arabic.”
We urge that all scripts be given equal respect and representation, as stated in Articles 14 and 29 (1) of the Indian Constitution. The discriminatory “One Language, One Script Policy” must be abandoned by the Sahitya Akademi since Konkani’s rich linguistic and cultural variety is reflected in its several scripts. He said, “Every script has a unique history and has significantly influenced Konknni literature.
He went on to say that there was no official Konkani script in the Sahitya Akademi before to 1981. Only in 1981 did the main character of Devanagari penetrate the Konkani Advisory Board and secure a unanimous vote to designate Devanagari as the official Konkani script.
Afonso was informed that Mandd Sobhann and Karnataka Konkani Lekhak Sangh, Mangaluru, are expected to send delegations to Goa to participate in the silent dharna and open mic sessions.
